Speaker Ryan Takes the Helm of a Ship That Will Continue to Sink

The easy part is over. Now Speaker Ryan will have to face the reality that eventually convinced John Boehner to quit his position as third in line to the Presidency. That reality is the "my way or the highway" Republican caucus.

Ryan has promised to bring together his deeply divided caucus, but that is much easier said than done. How exactly does he plan to bring his members together? Hold more votes on repealing Obamacare and Planned Parenthood funding? John Boehner oversaw his party vote to repeal Obamacare over fifty times and he was still pushed out. I highly doubt that repeal votes alone will be something the far right in his caucus will be happy with.

He hasn't laid out a vision other than promising the Freedom Caucus that he won't take up immigration reform until after President Obama leaves office. And he hasn't explained how he plans to work with the Senate or President Obama to actually sign bills into law.

As I've said before--both the electoral college and Senate maps are in the Democrats favor in 2016. If Speaker Ryan succumbs to his right flank then he will virtually guarantee a Democratic victory next year. He will most likely hold on to the House because of the 2010 redistricting fiasco, but he will never, ever see a bill that passes his House become law. Why would anyone want that on their resume?

I wouldn't bury the R's just yet. They are disciplined and faithful voters. I would love to see them in a serious decline for about 20 or more years. I also hope you're right about the good guys having a good year in '16. Time will tell.

The general election is a yet a year away, and like the budget deal, there may be a few more bi-partisan bills passed to minimize the possible negative image of a "no compromise" Freedom Caucus controlled Congress. Voters will be deceived.

All the Democrats need to do is get out and vote...a coalition of the Hillary Clinton supporters and the Bernie Sanders supporters, but that might be wishful thinking. There are many Sanders supporters who are "anti-Clinton" and may not feel so inspired to vote on election day. I don't know if the reverse is true.

One thing we cannot ignore. The Republican base of the Freedom Caucus and the Christian Crusaders are a formidable force driven by anger and hate. They will vote in large numbers.

Getting back on subject, if Clinton or Sanders wins the presidency, we can expect four more years of polarization of Congress and "no more compromises" by the Freedom Caucus. Paul Ryan will find it hard slogging.

The midterm elections in 2018 will be pivotal. Ground Hog Day repeating 2010 and 2014, but with a different cast of characters. Democrats are historically a bit fickle about voting in midterms. Republicans are obedient.

The general election is a yet a year away, and like the budget deal, there may be a few more bi-partisan bills passed to minimize the possible negative image of a "no compromise" Freedom Caucus controlled Congress. Voters will be deceived.

All the Democrats need to do is get out and vote...a coalition of the Hillary Clinton supporters and the Bernie Sanders supporters, but that might be wishful thinking. There are many Sanders supporters who are "anti-Clinton" and may not feel so inspired to vote on election day. I don't know if the reverse is true.

One thing we cannot ignore. The Republican base of the Freedom Caucus and the Christian Crusaders are a formidable force driven by anger and hate. They will vote in large numbers.

Getting back on subject, if Clinton or Sanders wins the presidency, we can expect four more years of polarization of Congress and "no more compromises" by the Freedom Caucus. Paul Ryan will find it hard slogging.

The midterm elections in 2018 will be pivotal. Ground Hog Day repeating 2010 and 2014, but with a different cast of characters. Democrats are historically a bit fickle about voting in midterms. Republicans are obedient.

I hope I'm wrong.

No Schmidt you are not wrong; Christian Crusaders are fanatic like ISIS, so watch out the fun is just starting.